You guys, do you know anything about Ozaki Koyo? What? That is not a Japanese name of a woman, but a man. He was an author active in Edo across Meiji era. Well, even if you don’t know about him, you must have heard “Konjiki Yasya,” an unfinished novel written by Ozaki Koyo.

Now I am not here in order to lecture on modern literature in Japan. I just mentioned about Ozaki Koyo first, because it is said the manuscript paper produced by Somaya established in 1659 is closely connected with him.

Ozaki Koyo
(1868 - 1903 / Born in Edo)

One day in Meiji period, Somaya made an error at one of their orders. They had Western paper left a lot as the result. At the time, paper was more precious than today. So they were impossible throwing the extra pieces away. Ozaki Koyo gave them an idea of wisdom. “Why don’t you make them lined and sell them as manuscript paper?” That is said to have helped them.

Literature was in fashion at the time and then, manuscript paper was found pretty useful. There were neither word processors nor PCs in Meiji era. They had to handwrite any novels and articles, therefore. You are easy to count how many letters are used, on manuscript paper. Somaya’s manuscript paper is said to have been used by many famous authors like Natsume Soseki, Ishikawa Takuboku, Kitahara Hakusyu and so on.

"B4 20 x 20"

LINE: Red
SIZE: B4
PRICE: 540 YEN (TAX IN)

Ozaki Koya passed away before he finished “Konjiki Yasya.” In other words, the tale is still going on. Somaya’s lined paper is also.